Cash Facsimile Analytics

ABSTRACT

A central repository for a gaming system, the central repository including a memory and one or more processors. The one or more processors are programmed to access the transaction data from a server storing transaction data corresponding to a plurality of gaming transactions associated with one or more gaming devices, each of the plurality of gaming transactions comprising a plurality of data attributes, assign a unique identifier to each of the plurality of gaming transactions, and store the transaction data and each of the assigned unique identifiers in groups based on the assigned unique identifiers in the memory of the central repository.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to managing gaming transaction data in acentral repository. More particularly, the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods of extracting, transforming, and storing gamingtransaction data in a gaming central repository.

Conventional gaming systems may include various types of components(e.g., servers, gaming machines, networking equipment, and controldevices) connected together over a network. Many components include oneor more data repositories for storing data relating to the gamingsystem. Traditionally, a portion of the gaming data from these variouscomponents of the gaming system is collected and stored in one location.Specifically, pre-determined types of data are periodically retrievedfrom particular gaming system components and stored in a centralizeddatabase and may be searched and used to generate reports and otherinformation. However, many of the various types of gaming systemcomponents use different communication protocols. Therefore, interfacingwith various types of components requires an ability to use a copiousamount of different protocols. Additionally, each gaming system and/oreach component associated with the respective gaming system may storegaming data in a variety of formats. Thus, in order to search forparticular data, each format may be known by a user in order to accessand search all of the gaming data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure expands on a desire of gaming establishments tocentralize data. The present disclosure describes extracting,transforming, and storing gaming transactions in a gaming centralrepository.

In one embodiment, a gaming system is provided that includes at leastone server configured to store transaction data corresponding to aplurality of gaming transactions associated with one or more gamingdevices, each of the plurality of gaming transactions comprising aplurality of data attributes, and a central repository that includes amemory and a processor. The processor is programmed to access thetransaction data from the at least one server, assign a uniqueidentifier to each of the plurality of gaming transactions, and storethe transaction data and each of the assigned unique identifiers ingroups based on the assigned unique identifiers in the memory of thecentral repository.

In another embodiment, a central repository for a gaming system isprovided. The central repository includes a memory and one or moreprocessors. The one or more processors are programmed to access thetransaction data from a server storing transaction data corresponding toa plurality of gaming transactions associated with one or more gamingdevices, each of the plurality of gaming transactions comprising aplurality of data attributes, assign a unique identifier to each of theplurality of gaming transactions, and store the transaction data andeach of the assigned unique identifiers in groups based on the assignedunique identifiers in the memory of the central repository.

In a further embodiment, a method is provided. The method includesaccessing gaming transaction data from at least one server, the gamingtransaction data corresponding to a plurality of gaming transactionsassociated with one or more gaming devices, each of the plurality ofgaming transactions comprising a plurality of data attributes, assigninga unique identifier to each of the plurality of gaming transactions, andstoring the transaction data and each of the assigned unique identifiersin groups based on the assigned unique identifiers in a memory of acentral repository.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described in detail below with reference tothe attached drawing Figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary gaming system.

FIG. 2A is a perspective illustration of an exemplary gaming machine.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic configuration of agaming machine, such as the gaming machine shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for extracting,transforming, and storing gaming transaction data in a gaming centralrepository.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate exemplary data attribute tables.

FIGS. 6-14 provide illustrative examples for displaying a result of asearch query analysis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to managing gaming transaction data in acentral repository. More particularly, the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods of extracting, transforming, and storing gamingtransaction data in a gaming central repository as well as may providinga reduction in a duplication of gaming transaction data being stored inthe central repository.

Referring to the figures, embodiments of the disclosure may enable acentral repository 102 to extract, transform, and store datacorresponding to gaming transactions that occur on a plurality ofdifferent gaming devices 104 that may be physically located in one ormore different gaming entities (e.g., gaming entities 106 and 108)and/or in different gaming properties/jurisdictions. Each gaming device104 may be connected to a monitoring server 110 that records/storesactivity relative to a corresponding gaming device 104. Centralrepository 102 may extract various types of game transaction informationfrom either monitoring servers 110 or in some embodiments, directly fromgaming devices 104. Central repository 102 may accommodate a possibilityof receiving and storing transactions with similar data attributes, ortransactions received in a variety of different formats, the system maycompare the extracted data with stored data, the system may furthertransform the data into a uniform format, and may assign one or moreunique identifiers to each transaction, that may enable each transactionto retain its source identifiable attributes while being incorporated inwith the data population that may be stored in central repository 102.As such, regardless of an original format of each transactionaccessed/received by central repository 102, once the transaction datamay be stored in central repository 102 by the processes describedherein, the data can be efficiently searched, retrieved, and analyzed bya user from a centralized source.

For example, a cash facsimile (e.g., any item that a gaming customer canuse in lieu of legal tender money to redeem for gaming play or legaltender money, or to receive payment from gaming play) transaction may berecorded on each of gaming devices 104 and may be updated to acorresponding monitoring server 110 that may be communicativelyconnected to each gaming device 104. While each cash facsimiletransaction may not be identical, each cash facsimile transaction mayshare common attributes, such as transaction type, transactiontimestamp, and an identification of the device that the transaction mayhave occurred on. Utilizing this commonality among cash facsimiletransactions, each cash facsimile transaction may be retrieved from acorresponding monitoring server 110, and each of the cash facsimiletransaction attributes may be converted into predefined centralrepository data attributes and placed into central repository 102. Thus,using the central repository predefined data attributes assigned to eachcash facsimile transaction, each cash facsimile transaction stored incentral repository 102 can be viewed/sorted/searched in a variety ofways regardless of an original format the cash facsimile transaction mayhave been received in. For example, each cash facsimile transaction canbe searched with respect to the cash facsimile transaction source or incomparison with other cash facsimile transactions from other monitoringservers 110. Further, associations between central repository 102predefined attributes and gaming transaction attributes may be managedand leveraged with central repository 102 tools that utilize informationthat may be stored in memory 114 of central repository 102. For example,central repository 102 may establish relationships between users,terminal information, site information, and gaming devices. With a givenset of relationships the system may establish using central repository102, a casino operator may identify a configuration desired of aparticular gaming device or groups of gaming devices.

While some embodiments of the disclosure may be illustrated anddescribed herein with reference to a central repository, a server, and agaming device, aspects of the disclosure may be operable with any devicethat performs the functionality illustrated and described herein, or itsequivalent. For example, embodiments of the disclosure may be operablewith netbooks, desktop computing devices, laptop computers, gamingconsoles, portable audio players, and other devices that enable gaming,database services, and/or execute software programs. Further, whileembodiments of the disclosure may be illustrated and described hereinwith reference to the extracting, transforming, and/or storing cashfacsimile transactions, aspects of the disclosure may be operable withother gaming information. Other examples of game information include,but may not be limited to: gaming terminal data, which may be a historyof game performance on a particular gaming terminal for all of its pastconfiguration; player data, which may be a composite of a player's gameplay on many different gaming terminals; route data, which may be acomposite of gaming terminal information for a group of gaming terminalson a route that may be include a number of gaming venues such as stores;and venue data, which may be a composite of terminal information for agroups of gaming terminals at a particular venue such as a casino, asubset of gaming terminals within a casino, a store or a restaurant.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a gaming system 100 isshown. Gaming system 100 may include central repository 102, gamingdevices 104, gaming entities 106 and 108, and monitoring servers 110. Asshown in FIG. 1, each of central repository 102, gaming devices 104,gaming entities 106 and 108, and monitoring servers 110 may becommunicatively coupled via communication network 112.

In one embodiment, communications network 112 may be a local areanetwork (LAN). In another embodiment, communications network 112 may bea wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of gaming devices 104 maybe in communication with at least one off-site server or controller(e.g., monitoring servers 110). In this embodiment, gaming devices 104may be located in a different part of the gaming establishment or withina different gaming establishment than monitoring servers 110. Thus, theWAN may include an off-site server or controller and an off-site gamingdevice that may be located within gaming establishments in the samegeographic area, such as a city or state. The WAN gaming system may besubstantially identical to the LAN gaming system, although the number ofgaming machines in each system may vary relative to each other.

Communication network 112 may be the Internet or an intranet. In thisembodiment, the operation of gaming devices 104 can be viewed at eachgaming device 104 with at least one internet browser. The operation ofgaming devices 104 and accumulation of credits may be accomplished withonly a connection with an internet server through a conventional phoneor other data transmission line, digital subscriber line (DSL), T-1line, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or other suitable connection. Inthis embodiment, players may access an internet game page from anylocation where an internet connection and computer, or other internetfacilitator may be available. The expansion in the number of computersand number and speed of internet connections in recent years increasesopportunities for players to play from an ever-increasing number ofremote sites. It may be appreciated that enhanced bandwidth of digitalwireless communications may render such technology suitable for some orall communications, particularly if such communications may beencrypted. Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancingthe sophistication and response of the display and interaction with theplayer.

Gaming devices 104 may be any type gaming machine and may not be limitedto mechanical slot machines and video game machines, such as video slotsand video poker. Additionally, each gaming device 104 may include one ormore local data repositories (not shown) for storing data. Inembodiments, one or more of gaming devices 104 in gaming system 100 maybe thin client gaming devices and one or more gaming devices 104 in thegaming system 100 may be thick client gaming devices. In anotherembodiment, certain functions of gaming devices 104 may be implementedin a thin client environment and certain other functions of gamingdevices 104 may be implemented in a thick client environment. In onesuch embodiment, computerized instructions for controlling any games maybe communicated from a central server (not shown) to each gaming device104 in a thick client configuration and computerized instructions forcontrolling any secondary games or bonus functions may be executed bythe central server in a thin client configuration.

With reference now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an illustrative example of one ofgaming devices 104 (e.g., gaming machine 204) may be provided. As shownin FIG. 2A, gaming machine 204 may include a support structure, housing,or cabinet 202 that may provide support for a plurality of interfaceunits, displays, inputs, controls and other features of a conventionalgaming machine. Gaming machine 204 may be configured so that a playermay operate it while standing or sitting. Moreover, gaming machine 204may be positioned on a base or stand, or may be configured as apub-style table-top game (not shown) that a player may operate whileseated. Gaming machine 204 may not be limited to only being the deviceillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but as may be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art, gaming machine 204 may have varying cabinets202 and display configurations, without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

With reference now to FIG. 2B, gaming machine 204 may include at leastone processor 212 or other suitable controller, such as amicroprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integratedcircuit or one or more application-specific integrated circuits(ASIC's). Processor 212 may be coupled in communication with, or may beoperable to access or to exchange signals with at least one data storagemodule or memory 214. In one embodiment, processor 212 and memory 214may reside within gaming machine cabinet 202. Memory 214 may storeprogram code and instructions that may be executable by processor 212,to control gaming machine 204. Memory 214 may also store other data suchas, image data, pay tables, event data, player input data, random orpseudo-random number generators, look-up table data, payback data orinformation and applicable game rules that relate to the play of gamingmachine 204. In one embodiment, memory 214 may include random accessmemory (RAM), that may include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), magnetic RAM(MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) and other forms as commonly understoodin the gaming industry. In another embodiment, memory 214 may includeread only memory (ROM). In yet another embodiment, memory 214 mayinclude flash memory and/or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmableread only memory). Any other suitable magnetic, optical and/orsemiconductor memory may be used to operate in conjunction with gamingmachine 204 that may enable gaming machine 204 to function as describedherein.

In one embodiment, part or all of the program code and/or operating datadescribed above may be stored in a detachable or removable memory,including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk, CD ROM, DVDor USB memory device. Moreover, in other embodiments, part or all of theprogram code and/or operating data described above may be downloadableto memory 214 through a suitable network.

An operator or a player may use such a removable memory in a desktopcomputer, a laptop personal computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), portable computing device, or other computerized platform toimplement the present disclosure. In one embodiment, gaming machine 204may be operable over a wireless network, such as part of a wirelessgaming system. In this embodiment, gaming machine 204 may be a hand helddevice, a mobile device or any other suitable wireless device that mayenable a player to play any suitable game at a variety of differentlocations. It may be appreciated that gaming machine 204 may be a devicethat has obtained approval from a regulatory gaming commission or adevice that has not obtained approval from a regulatory gamingcommission. It may also be appreciated that processor 212 and memory 214may be collectively referred to herein as a “computer” or “controller.”

As shown in FIG. 2B, gaming machine 204 may include interface unit 216that may be controlled by processor 212. Interface unit 216 may becoupled to cabinet 202 to display a game and to accept game play datafrom a player. Moreover, interface unit 216 may also display informationrelating to an interactive game, wager triggering event, or wageringoutcome. Interface unit 216 may also serve as digital glass operable toadvertise games or other aspects of the gaming establishment. Interfaceunit 216 may include, without limitation, a monitor, a televisiondisplay, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) a displaybased on light emitting diodes (LED), a display based on a plurality oforganic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based on polymerlight-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality ofsurface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including aprojected and/or reflected image or any other suitable electronic deviceor display mechanism. In one embodiment, interface unit 216 may includea touch-screen, for example touch-screen 242, that may be used with anassociated touch-screen controller, for example touch-screen controller244. Moreover, interface unit may be of any suitable size andconfiguration, such as a circular, square, or rectangular.

Interface unit 216 may display at least one game or other suitableimages, symbols, and indicia such as any visual representation orexhibition of a movement of objects such as mechanical, virtual or videoreels and wheels, dynamic lighting, video images, images of people,characters, places, things and faces of cards, and the like. In oneembodiment, the symbols, images, and indicia displayed on or of theinterface unit may be in a mechanical form. That is, interface unit 216may include any electromechanical device, such as one or more mechanicalobjects, such as one or more rotatable wheels, reels or dice, configuredto display at least one or a plurality of games or other suitableimages, symbols or indicia.

As shown in FIG. 2A, gaming machine 204 may also include a credit orfund display 220 that may display a player's current number of credits,cash accumulated, account balance, or an original number of credits theplayer funded the gaming machine with, or an equivalent of any of theaforementioned. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, gaming machine204 may include a wager component display 221 that may display an amountof credits being wagered and may also include an amount of credits wondisplay 222 that may display a player's accumulated winningsFurthermore, gaming machine 204 may include an interactive game display,such as a points display 223 that may display a player's points for aninteractive game. For example, a player may use steering wheel 252 andother inputs such as pedals 253 to maneuver a on or around the displayedrace course in a conventional manner This interactive game thus mayrequire a plurality of inputs by the player. Gaming device 204 maydetermine the outcome of the interactive game based, at least in part,on the player's performance in the interactive game. In a furtherembodiment, at least one interface unit may be a mobile display device,such as a PDA or tablet PC that may enable play of at least a portion ofthe games at a location remote from gaming machine 204.

In one embodiment, gaming machine 204 may include at least one paymentacceptor 224 that may be coupled in communication with processor 212.Payment acceptor 224 may include a coin slot 226 and a payment, note, orbill/cash facsimile acceptor 228, wherein a player may insert money,coins, tokens, or cash facsimiles. In other embodiments, devices such asreaders or validators for credit cards, debit cards, or credit slips mayaccept payment. In one embodiment, a player may insert an identificationcard (not shown) into a card reader of gaming machine 204. Theidentification card may be a smart card that includes a programmedmicrochip or a magnetic strip coded with a player's identification,credit totals (or related data) and other relevant information. Inanother embodiment, a player may carry a portable device, such as a cellphone, a radio frequency identification tag or any other suitablewireless device, that communicates a player's identification, credittotals (or related data) and other relevant information to gamingmachine 204. In one embodiment, money may be transferred to gamingmachine 204 via an electronic funds transfer. When a player funds gamingmachine 204, processor 212 may determine an amount of funds entered anddisplays the corresponding amount on the credit or other suitabledisplay as described above.

With reference back to FIG. 2B, gaming machine 204 may include at leastone input device that may be coupled in communication with processor212. Input devices can include any suitable device that enables theplayer to produce an input signal that may be receivable by processor212. For example, in one embodiment, after funding gaming machine 204,the input device may be a game activation device, such as a pull arm 232or a play button 234 (shown in FIG. 2A) that may enable the player tostart the game or a sequence of events in gaming machine 204. Playbutton 234 can be any suitable play activator such as a bet one button,a max bet button, or a repeat the bet button. In one embodiment, afterappropriate funding of gaming machine 204, the game play may beginautomatically. In another embodiment, after a player engages one of theplay buttons, such as button 236, gaming machine 204 may automaticallyactivate game play.

In the exemplary embodiment, one input device may be a “Bet One” button236. The player may place a bet by pushing “Bet One” button 236 and canincrease the bet by pushing “Bet One” button 236. When the player pushes“Bet One” button 236, the number of credits shown in the credit displaydecreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet displayincreases by one. In another embodiment, one input device may be a “BetMax” button (not shown) that may enable the player to bet the maximumwager component permitted for a game of gaming machine 204. Anotherinput device may be a “Cash Out” button 238. The player may push “CashOut” button 238 to receive a cash payment or other suitable form ofpayment corresponding to the number of credits remaining. In oneembodiment, when the player cashes out, the player may receive coins ortokens in a coin payout tray 228. In another embodiment, when the playercashes out, the player may receive other payout mechanisms, such as acash facsimile that is redeemable by a cashier (or other suitableredemption system), or funding to the player's electronically recordableidentification card.

As best seen in FIG. 2B, gaming machine 204 may include a touch-screen242 (e.g., display 216) that may be coupled to a touch-screen controller244, or some other touch-sensitive display overlay to enable playerinteraction with images on display. Touch-screen 242 and thetouch-screen controller 244 may be connected to a video controller 246.A player can input signals into gaming machine 204 by touchingtouch-screen 242.

Gaming machine 204 may also include a plurality of communication portsfor enabling communication of processor 212 with external peripherals,such as external video sources, expansion buses, game or other displays,an SCSI port or a key pad. In the exemplary embodiment, gaming machine204 may include a sound generating device (not shown) controlled by oneor more sounds cards 248 that may be controlled by processor 212. In oneembodiment, the sound generating device may include at least one speaker250 or other sound generating hardware and/or software for use ingenerating sounds, such as playing music for the game or for otheroperating modes of gaming machine 204. In one embodiment, gaming machine204 may provide dynamic sounds, coupled with attractive multimediaimages displayed on interface unit 216 to provide an audio-visualrepresentation or to otherwise display full-motion video with sound toattract potential players gaming machine 204. During idle periods,gaming machine 204 may display a sequence of audio and/or visualattraction messages to attract potential players to gaming machine 204.

Gaming machine 204 may include a sensor, such as a camera (not shown)coupled in communication with processor 212, and possibly controlled byprocessor 212 to be selectively positionable to acquire an image of aplayer actively playing gaming machine 204, and/or a surrounding area ofgaming machine 204. In one embodiment, the camera may selectivelyacquire still or moving (e.g., video) images and may be configured toacquire the images in either an analog, digital, or other suitableformat. Interface unit 216 may be configured to display the imageacquired by the camera, as well as to display the visible manifestationof the game in split screen or picture-in-picture fashion. For example,the camera may acquire an image of the player and processor 212 mayincorporate that image into the interactive and/or secondary game as agame image, symbol or indicia.

In one embodiment, gaming machine 204 may also include a globalpositioning satellite (GPS) device (not shown). The GPS device may beused for identifying a location of gaming machine 204, and moreparticularly, indentifying a jurisdiction gaming machine 204 physicallyresides in at a time of the game play. As such, monitoring server 110(shown in FIG. 1) can access a location of gaming machine 204.

As mentioned above, gaming machine 204 may be in communication withmonitoring servers 110 (shown in FIG. 1). That is, gaming machine 204generates game outcomes that are provided to the player and monitoringservers 110 to monitor the activities and events occurring on gamingmachine 204. In one embodiment, communication network 112 (shown inFIG. 1) includes a real-time or on-line accounting and gaminginformation system that is operably coupled to monitoring servers 110.The accounting and gaming information system of this embodiment includesa player database for storing player profiles, a player tracking modulefor tracking players and a credit system for providing automated casinotransactions.

In one embodiment, gaming machine 204 may be associated with, orotherwise integrated into, one or more player tracking systems that mayinclude player transaction history. More specifically, gaming machine204 and/or the player tracking system may track any players gamingactivity at gaming machine 204. In one embodiment, gaming machine 204and/or the associated player tracking system tracks when a playerinserts their playing tracking card to begin a gaming session and alsotimely tracks when a player removes their player tracking card whenconcluding play for that gaming session. In another embodiment, ratherthan requiring a player to insert a player tracking card, gaming machine204 may utilize one or more portable devices carried by a player, suchas a cell phone, a radio frequency identification tag or any othersuitable wireless device to track when a player begins and ends a gamingsession. In a further embodiment, gaming machine 204 may utilize anysuitable biometric technology or ticket technology to track when aplayer begins and ends a gaming session.

During gaming sessions, gaming machine 204 and/or player tracking systemtracks any suitable information, such as any amounts wagered, theinteractive game outcomes, wagering outcomes, average wager componentsand/or the time these wagers are placed, as well as a transactionhistory, such as purchases made within or associated with a gamingestablishment, for example, hotel rooms, drinks, clothes, massages,haircuts, dinners, souvenirs, shows, movies, and the like. In anotherembodiment, the player tracking system may include the player's accountnumber, the player's card number, the player's first name, the player'ssurname, the player's preferred name, the player's player trackingranking, any promotion status associated with the player's playertracking card, the player's address, the player's birthday, the player'sanniversary, the player's recent gaming sessions, or any other suitabledata.

As mentioned above, gaming data, and more specifically, gamingtransaction data for each of gaming devices 104 may be recorded/storedin a corresponding monitoring servers 110. Thus, to obtain informationrelated to each of gaming devices 104, central repository 102 canextract this information from monitoring servers 110 without a need torequest information from gaming devices 102. Further, central repository102 may be configured to extract gaming data from monitoring servers 110automatically without a need for gaming devices 104 or monitoringservers 110 to send central repository 102 gaming data. As such, centralrepository 102 may be enabled to extract information automaticallywithout undue cost to the gaming devices 104 or monitoring servers 110.

Monitoring servers 110 may be any suitable servers or computing deviceswhich include at least one of a processor and at least one of a memory,or storage device. A gaming machine processor, for example, processor212, may be operable to execute communicated events, messages, orcommands in conjunction with an operation of gaming machine 204 tomonitoring servers 110. Moreover, monitoring servers 110 may be designedto transmit and receive events, messages, commands or any other suitabledata or signal between server 110 and gaming machine 204 to centralrepository 102. The server may be operable to execute such communicatedevents, messages or commands in conjunction with the operation of server110.

In one embodiment, each of servers 110 may record/store gamingtransaction data corresponding to gaming devices 104. For example,servers 110 may access gaming data corresponding to coin-in and coin-outdata, game software component information (such as versions of softwareresiding on each gaming device 104 and/or a version of a game beingplayed), and player tracking information, such as the identity of aplayer playing a game on each gaming device 104. As described in furtherdetail below, central repository 102 may poll (e.g., extract informationfrom) servers 110 for gaming information related to gaming devices 104and may store the gaming information in central repository 102.

In one embodiment, central repository 102 may include memory 114 andprocessor 116. Gaming data, such as gaming transaction information(e.g., cash facsimile transaction information), game softwarecomponents, and game software component information may be stored inmemory 114, or other computer-readable medium or media. Of course, oneof ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that a casino gaming systemmay also include other types of components, and the above illustrationis meant only as an example and not as a limitation to the types ofcomponents used in a casino gaming system. Further, one of ordinaryskill in the art, guided by the teachings herein may appreciate that avariety of types of servers may be used as central repository 102. Thetype of server used may be determined by platform and softwarerequirements of a particular gaming system.

By storing gaming data centrally (e.g., in central repository 102) in auniform way, searches and queries of various gaming data can beefficiently performed regardless of a format the gaming data wasoriginally received by central repository 102. Further, while gamingdata may be stored in memory 114 on central repository 102, gaming datamay be stored remotely from central repository 102. For example, gamingdata may be stored in a cloud service, a database or other memory areaaccessible by central repository 102.

In one embodiment, central repository 102 may access and/or receivevarious types of game transaction information from either monitoringservers 110 or directly from gaming devices 104. In addition, and iswill be explained in further detail below, central repository 102accommodates a possibility of receiving and storing transactions withsimilar data attributes by assigning a unique identifier to eachtransaction. The unique identifier in turn, links the transaction todescription tables (e.g., dimensions), which enables the transaction toretain its source identifiable attributes while incorporated with theentire data population stored in central repository 102. As such,regardless of an original format of each transaction accessed/receivedby central repository 102, the present disclosure may enable data to besearched, retrieved, and analyzed. For example, an accounting reportdetailing a performance of an individual and/or groups of gaming devices104 may be generated from data stored on servers 110. These reports maycontain game performance data collected from any number of gamingdevices 104 supporting many different types of games as well as hoteloperations data. As such, the gaming information accessed from servers110 and stored in central repository 102 may be used to generate reportssummarizing a performance of all gaming devices 104.

In one embodiment, processor 116 may execute computer-executableinstructions for implementing aspects of the disclosure. For example,processor 116 accesses/extracts gaming data (e.g., gaming transactiondata) from at least one monitoring server 110. In one embodiment, thegaming data corresponds to a plurality of gaming transactions associatedwith one or more gaming devices 104, and each of the plurality of gamingtransactions may include information that may be separated into aplurality of data attributes. For example, game transaction informationmay have more detailed attributes, such as coin-in, coin-out, and anamount bet per game that may be stored according to specific games asgame dating. In one embodiment, the gaming data may be a composite ofgaming data obtained from multiple gaming terminals operating atdifferent locations. Additional attributes that may be associated withthe gaming data are time, game version, location, gaming terminal, andplayer identification. The data fields may be utilized by analysis toolsresiding in central repository 102 to generate various informationrelationships such as game performance as a function of time, gameperformance as a function of location, game performance as a function ofgame version and game performance as a function of player. To enablesearches and queries of various gaming data to be efficiently performedregardless of the format the gaming data was originally received,processor 116 may assign a unique identifier to each gaming transaction,and may store the transaction data and each of the assigned uniqueidentifiers in memory 114 of central repository 102. In someembodiments, processor 116 may be converted into a special purposemicroprocessor by executing computer-executable instructions or byotherwise being programmed For example, processor 116 may be programmedwith instructions such as illustrated next in FIG. 3.

Referring next to FIG. 3, an exemplary flow chart illustrates accessingand storing gaming transaction data in central repository 102 in groupsbased on the assigned unique identifiers. At 302, gaming transactiondata may be accessed from at least one server 110. In one embodiment,the gaming transaction data may correspond to a plurality of gamingtransactions associated with one or more gaming devices 104. In oneembodiment, gaming transaction data may be converted and cleansed suchthat all data attributes may be associated with attributes predefined incentral repository 102. However, before gaming transaction data may bestored in central repository 102, a determination may be made as towhether accessed gaming transaction data corresponds to any gamingtransaction data that currently exists in central repository 102. Whileeach cash facsimile transaction may not be identical, each cashfacsimile transaction share common attributes. In one embodiment,attributes of a gaming transaction may be partitioned into either“facts,” which, in one embodiment may be numeric transaction data, and“dimensions,” which, in one embodiment may be references to informationthat gives context to the facts.

For example, with reference now to FIG. 4, a cash facsimile transactionmay be partitioned into facts, as shown at table 402, and dimensions, asshown at tables 404-414. By partitioning each cash facsimile transactionin this way, each attribute may be easily understood for gamingoperators, because the structure may be divided into measurements/factsand context/dimensions. One of ordinary skill in the art guided by theteachings herein may appreciate that the “facts” and “dimensions” shownin FIG. 4 may be for illustrative purposes only and may not be intendedto limit the scope of the disclosure.

In one embodiment, the gaming transactions may be compared with storedgaming transaction, and more specifically, the attributes of each gamingtransactions may be compared with stored attributes. Thus, if it may bedetermined that the accessed gaming transaction data does not correspondto gaming transaction data that currently exists in central repository102, at 304, each attribute in each respective gaming transactiondetermined not to correspond to gaming transaction data that currentlyexists in central repository 102 may be converted into a predefinedattribute.

For example, with reference now to FIG. 5, tables 502, 504, and 506illustrate how information from a cash facsimile transaction may beseparated into groups and “mapped” to predefined attributes, shown inFIG. 4. For example, once a cash facsimile transaction may be obtained,central repository 102 may place the cash facsimile transaction data ina “staging” area, and more specifically, into separate staging tables502, 504, and 506. Once the attributes in tables 502, 504, and 506 maybe determined to not correspond to gaming transaction data that maycurrently exist in central repository 102, the attributes in tables 502,504, and 506 may be converted into predefined attributes, for example,as shown in FIG. 4. As such, central repository 102 may enable astructure of a gaming transaction to be divided into measurements/factsand context/dimensions that may be uniform and easily understood by anend user. If, however, it may be determined that the accessed gamingtransaction data in tables 502, 504, and 506 correspond to gamingtransaction data that currently exists in central repository 102, theaccessed gaming transaction data may be flagged and the information maynot be stored in central repository 102, thus eliminating duplicatinginformation.

Referring back to FIG. 3, at 306, once a gaming transaction data mayhave been converted into predefined attributes, a unique identifier maybe assigned to each of the plurality of gaming transactions, and morespecifically, to each attribute in the gaming transaction data. In oneembodiment, the unique identifier in turn, may link each attribute tothe gaming transaction, which may enable the gaming transaction toretain its source identifiable attributes while incorporated in withother gaming transactions in central repository 102. At 308, thetransaction data and each of the assigned unique identifiers may bestored in groups based on the assigned unique identifiers in memory 114of central repository 102.

In one embodiment, the unique identifier may be a primary key and/or asurrogate key. Thus, the unique identifier may be a “meaningless,”single part, unique identifier. For example, there may be no semanticvalue associated with the unique identifier rather its sole purpose maybe unique identification. The unique identifier may be automaticallygenerated by central repository 102, and more specifically, processor116 upon accessing or loading gaming data from, for example, monitoringservers 110.

Data attributes may be defined by a gaming operator and may be used tostore commonly accessed data combinations to minimize analysis timesparticular to gaming establishment and/or system. One of ordinary skillin the art guided by the teachings herein may appreciate that manydifferent combinations of game transaction information and other gameinformation for various groups of gaming devices may be stored incentral repository 102 as a queryable database.

As mentioned above, regardless of an original format of each transactionaccessed/received by central repository 102, the present disclosure mayenable data to be efficiently searched, retrieved, and analyzed. In oneembodiment, a user may request information to be presented in aparticular format (e.g., an spreadsheet, a graph, a timeline, and thelike). Thus, by creating a central repository in this way, gamingproperty operators can easily address questions related to one, some, orall types of cash facsimile transactions from a single source. As such,a gaming operator can address questions related to one, some, or alltypes of cash facsimile transactions from a single source. The followingare exemplary business questions and FIGS. 6-13 provide an illustrativeexamples of how the questions could be answered from the data stored incentral repository 102: 1) What is the average time between cash out andredemption? 2) What is the frequency distribution of cash facsimileprint times? 3) What is the average amount of a cash facsimile cash out?4) What is the average number of cash facsimiles cashed out per gamingdevice? Using the information stored in central repository 102, anddepending on the tools that a gaming property operator may be familiarwith, gaming data may be searched, analyzed and presented to a user intocustomized graphs and/or spread sheets, as shown in FIGS. 6-14.

The present disclosure uses examples to disclose the best mode, and alsoto enable any person skilled in the art to practice the claimed subjectmatter, including making and using any devices or systems and performingany incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the present disclosuremay be defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occurto those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to bewithin the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that donot differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gaming system comprising: at least one serverconfigured to store transaction data corresponding to a plurality ofgaming transactions associated with one or more gaming devices, each ofthe plurality of gaming transactions comprising a plurality of dataattributes; and a central repository comprising a memory and aprocessor, the processor programmed to: access the transaction data fromthe at least one server; assign a unique identifier to each of theplurality of gaming transactions; and store the transaction data andeach of the assigned unique identifiers in groups based on the assignedunique identifiers in the memory of the central repository.
 2. Thegaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transaction datacorresponds to one or more cash facsimile transactions.
 3. The gamingsystem in accordance with claim 2, wherein the processor is furtherprogrammed to assign a unique identifier to one or more of the pluralityof data attributes for each of the plurality of gaming transactions. 4.The gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the uniqueidentifier is a surrogate key.
 5. The gaming system in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to associate one ormore of the data attributes of each of the plurality of gamingtransactions with a unique identifier.
 6. The gaming system inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed toidentify transaction data corresponding to any of the plurality ofgaming transactions that currently exists in the memory of the centralrepository and not assign a unique identifier to the identifiedtransaction data.
 7. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1,wherein the processor is further programmed to associate one or more ofthe plurality of data attributes to a corresponding central repositorypredefined data attribute.
 8. A central repository for a gaming system,the central repository comprising: a memory; and one or more processors,the one or more processors programmed to: access the transaction datafrom a server storing transaction data corresponding to a plurality ofgaming transactions associated with one or more gaming devices, each ofthe plurality of gaming transactions comprising a plurality of dataattributes; assign a unique identifier to each of the plurality ofgaming transactions; and store the transaction data and each of theassigned unique identifiers in groups based on the assigned uniqueidentifiers in the memory of the central repository.
 9. The centralrepository in accordance with claim 8, wherein the transaction datacorresponds to one or more cash facsimile transactions.
 10. The centralrepository in accordance with claim 9, wherein the processor is furtherprogrammed to assign a unique identifier to one or more of the pluralityof data attributes for each of the plurality of gaming transactions. 11.The central repository in accordance with claim 8, wherein the uniqueidentifier is a surrogate key.
 12. The central repository in accordancewith claim 8, wherein the processor is further programmed to associateone or more of the data attributes of each of the plurality of gamingtransactions with a unique identifier.
 13. The central repository inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the processor is further programmed toidentify transaction data corresponding to any of the plurality ofgaming transactions that currently exists in the memory of the centralrepository and not assign a unique identifier to the identifiedtransaction data.
 14. The central repository in accordance with claim 8,wherein the processor is further programmed to associate one or more ofthe plurality of data attributes to a corresponding central repositorypredefined data attribute.
 15. A method comprising; accessing gamingtransaction data from at least one server, the gaming transaction datacorresponding to a plurality of gaming transactions associated with oneor more gaming devices, each of the plurality of gaming transactionscomprising a plurality of data attributes; assigning a unique identifierto each of the plurality of gaming transactions; and storing thetransaction data and each of the assigned unique identifiers in groupsbased on the assigned unique identifiers in a memory of a centralrepository.
 16. The method in accordance with claim 15, furthercomprising assigning a unique identifier to one or more of the pluralityof data attributes for each of the plurality of gaming transactions. 17.The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising associatingone or more of the data attributes of each of the plurality of gamingtransactions with a unique identifier.
 18. The method in accordance withclaim 15, further comprising identifying transaction data correspondingto any of the plurality of gaming transactions that currently exists inthe memory of the central repository and not assign a unique identifierto the identified transaction data.
 19. The method in accordance withclaim 15, further comprising associating one or more of the plurality ofdata attributes to a corresponding central repository predefined dataattribute.
 20. The method in accordance with claim 15, furthercomprising assigning a surrogate key to each of the plurality of gamingtransactions.
 21. The method in accordance with claim 15, furthercomprising: receiving a request for information regarding one or moregaming transactions; accessing the requested information using theunique identifiers assigned to the applicable gaming transaction; andproviding the requested information.
 22. The method in accordance withclaim 21, wherein the received request identifies a particular formatthe requested information is to be provided.
 23. The method inaccordance with claim 22, further comprising providing the requestedinformation in the particular format.